JRenee - Joni Renee Zalk

Keeping the groove alive, I intend to use this as my travel blog and diary so that you all can vicariously join me on my adventures around the world. It starts in Thailand, and will never end.

Having discovered my lifelong passion of healing is manifesting as Chinese Medicine, I'm off!

Starting August 27th, I will be leaving America - yet again - to get a taste of Asia.
I will be gone for 8 months this time! Taiwan, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and maybe a little more.
I think it's important for me to see where Chinese medicine originated.
Currently I'm in Taiwan studying at a Buddhist hospital seeing and treating patients.
I'll come back to America around May 2010.

Love and Blessings,
Joni

P.S.
Here is a great quote: "A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour."
- George Bernard Shaw

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Joined on: January 10th 2007
Last Login: March 10th 2010

Blog Entries: 43
Photos: 1332
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Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by JRenee, order by Date newest first.

By JRenee
February 19th 2010

Girl Time in Tonsai Asia » Thailand » South-West Thailand » Ao Nang

You see?

This blog is dedicated to all the lovely girls that graced Tonsai. Being around so many SEXY MEN is great. But too much male eye candy can make the vision blurry, so I was so grateful to my girls who helped to balance out the estrogen. Only three pictures of boys - the rest GIRLS! Hilary stayed with me (couchsurfed!) for a month - a month too short! Adrian, Cori and I rocked Valentine's day with a fantastic multi-pitch climb. We declared it Girl's day. Remember "Charlie's Angels?" well, our "Charlie" was named, "Oli" So here are the Oli's Angels pics. [View Full Entry]

By JRenee
January 20th 2010

Getting Spoiled in Tonsai Asia » Thailand » South-West Thailand » Ao Nang

Eva, Joni, Hilary

There are a few rules in Tonsai. 1) Get a lot of QHT (Quality Hammock Time) 2) Eat at least one coconut per day. 3) Stop and talk to people you like, and then go climbing. 4) If you are not climbing, then double said rule #1. Hilary In the picture to the right, Eva (met in Kalymnos, and we have remained friends ever since) came to Tonsai, and introduced me to her "sister" Hilary. Hilary and I got along great, andI invited her to couchsurf with me. Hilary is doing what more people should do (in an ideal world!). She [View Full Entry]

By JRenee
December 19th 2009

ARE YOU READY FOR THIS? Asia

Monkey Love

I have made you all a video of what I'm up to in tonsai. Thought it would be more fun than reading about it. sshhh don't tell the government I'm working here, else I'll track you down and kick your A** If anyone misses me terribly and wants to feel a little closer to me, then wear the same clothes (and sweat in them) every single day and don't wash them for a week. Only take cold showers, and LIKE it! Enjoy the monkey pictures! ~merry christmas, happy hannuka, happy new year ~ Joni Renee Zalk WATCH [View Full Entry]

By JRenee
December 14th 2009

Back to Tonsai Asia » Thailand » South-West Thailand » Ao Nang

Reading and Beaching

Thank goodness... nothing has changed! Same people, same stores, same climbing shops, same awesome CLIMBS!!! They keep bolting, so there are more and more climbs, and not as polished as I feared. I will keep it brief because I have been here before, and you know already how much I love Thailand. No need to say much more... Enjoy the photos. Brad and Tonya just came in from Boulder and graced us with their presence. Come one climber, come all cool climbers!! Weather is cooler, and there are less mozzies. Enjoy the snow for me! Much love, Joni [View Full Entry]

By JRenee
December 8th 2009

The secret to mosquito bites Asia » Thailand » South-West Thailand » Ao Nang

First of all, Deet is your friend. Second of all, if you rub Turmeric on your new bite, you will forget it is there, and never feel it again. Remember that. TURMERIC. Its a yellow root that is used a lot in Indian dishes. If you are in Thailand, go to a market and say, "Cumin" But in English, it is TURMERIC. It will save you, and you will be forever grateful to the G-d that made that awesome root. Amen. [View Full Entry]

By JRenee
November 26th 2009

Last memories in Chengdu and China Asia » China » Sichuan » Chengdu

Sausages

Here are some random photos of Chengdu. My friends were a combination of Israelis who were studying, two Americans working in China, and some Asians (Chinese and Taiwanese). Here are some pics of us... I asked Flora if she had a smaller lab coat for me, and she said she got these large sizes specifically for the foreign students. I asked her, "Flora, did you think that all foreigners are BIG and FAT?" and she answered (honestly), "YES!!" and then laughed at herself. She was being honest! and now most of us don have lab coats that fit properly. There is [View Full Entry]

By JRenee
November 24th 2009

Studying in China - Chengdu University Asia

This is for Marco Chung-Shu Lam, L.Ac.

For those of you who don't know: I went to China to study Chinese medicine. I thought it best to go to the SOURCE. The hospital I studied in was called 'Chengdu University of TCM' and it had 3500 patients visit every day. There are many departments: -Respiratory (common colds, fever, bronchitis, etc) -Neurology (depression, parkinsons, strokes, schizophrenia, etc) -Pediatrics (the doctor for Pediatrics was also a specialist in nephrology!) -Cardiology (I got an ECG scan while I was there out of curiousity. One of the few times in my life someone looked at me and said, "Normal") -Gynecology (This is [View Full Entry]

By JRenee
November 11th 2009

Life in Chengdu Asia » China » Sichuan » Chengdu

Chengdu

Here are some representative pictures of life in Chengdu. Enjoy! [View Full Entry]

By JRenee
November 11th 2009

The only rule in China is... Asia

The only rule in China is that there are no rules. Red light? Whatever that means. Let's keep driving! Hit someone? are they alive? good, keep going. Do I have the right of way? No. Go ahead anyways. I'm a bus and just hit a moped. The person is dis-oriented, and their moped is a little dinged up. Can they walk away? Ya, so get out of my way so I can keep going! Let's talk on the phone while driving. Let's text and not look at the road while in motion! I'm riding my bike down the street, and there [View Full Entry]

By JRenee
November 5th 2009

Did I get the Swine Flu? Did I live to tell the tale?? Asia

Doctor checking my lymph nodes

Once upon a time, in a magical fairy land far, far away, there existed a witch doctor. This doctor could cure all ills, and was very knowledgeable. He discovered the existence of many magical herbs that helped to cure many people. One of these so called herbs was called "Ma Huang." (In America, it's called, "Ephedra") It was a very magically delicious formula, known to the locals as it cured asthma, flu, the common cold, wheezing, and edema. You see, it was understood that if you had the beginnings of a cold, it would run into your body quickly and kick [View Full Entry]

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